About

$6,039

pledged of $4,420 goal

134

backers

New Goals Announced!Amazingly, we have already reached our original goal, with a couple weeks left to go in the campaign. We have a couple new, very modest goals that we hope we can reach in the remaining campaign time:

1) If we can raise $300 above our initial goal, we want to have a more elaborate costume custom-designed for Michelle for the film and premiere. This will make the visual element even more chilling!

2) If we can raise $800 above our initial goal, we'll be able to do one of the following: Rent a nicer venue for the filming and premiere performance, or spend more time in the recording studio - either of which will mean a better end product.

3) If we can raise $2000 above our initial goal, we'll be able to make moves towards taking this project on tour. The money will go towards covering basic van rental, gas, food, and accommodations for an ensemble of 6 people for up to two weeks on the road.

Ichneumonidae (pronounced Ick-noo-MON-eh-dee) is a new collaborative music and Butoh dance piece by Toby Driver and Michelle Morinaga, featuring the virtuosic violin work of Timba Harris. Named after a horrifying family of parasitic wasps, Ichneumonidae explores the astounding psyche of parasites, touching on dualities of survival and self-destruction, the perilous tensions of coexistence, and the subtle horrors of the colonized body.

Originally performed as a violin/guitar duet between Driver and Harris, with dance and percussive elements performed by Morinaga, (see above video) we want to expand the music to suit a larger ensemble, namely, two violins, vibraphone/orchestral percussion, guitar, synth, and heavily processed vocals. This is Toby Driver's first foray into writing music specifically to accompany dance. Our plan is to record the music in a professional studio with the large
ensemble and create a dance film in a separate studio using the audio
recording.

The Butoh side of the production is a solo choreography and dance performance by Morinaga, which will be professionally filmed in a theatre in New York with full lighting, costuming, and multiple cameras and angles.

The official release of Ichneumonidae will come as a
DVD of these recordings, edited into one performance, and packaged with a 12pp full-color booklet
containing original graphic-novel-style artwork by Toby and photos by
Michelle, whose photography appears as the official artwork for the
Kayo Dot: Gamma Knife/Grey Dream vinyl LP release (2012 Antithetic
Records).

Biographies:

TOBY DRIVER is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and artist based in Brooklyn, perhaps best known for his many forward-thinking bands Kayo Dot, maudlin of the Well, Tartar Lamb, Vaura, Secret Chiefs 3, Asva, and others. Listen to almost ALL of his recorded output here: http://kayodot.net/audio

MICHELLE MORINAGA Michelle Morinaga is an emerging choreographer and performer. With a dance background spanning 17 years, she has trained with Dance New Amsterdam (NYC), the School of Toronto Dance Theatre and Vangeline Theater (NYC), among others, and has had the pleasure of learning from renowned Japanese Butoh masters including Yumiko Yoshioka, Koichi & Hiroko Tamano, Atsushi Takenouchi, Masaki Iwana, Denise Fujiwara, and Ko Murobushi. Michelle has performed internationally at such venues as The Stone (NYC), The 2011 HOWL Festival (NYC), Coney Island (NYC), and the arts research institute Schloss Bröllin (Germany).

TIMBA HARRIS is a composer and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his roles as the violinist of Secret Chiefs 3 and Estradasphere. Timba has just released a solo album of his long-form composition NEXUS: Cascadia I on the Tzadik record label. Timba has also recorded with other artists such as Sunn0))), Mammiffer, Master Musicians Of Bukkake, Mr. Bungle, Peter Garland, and more.

Performance video footage above shot by Geoff Shelton at the world premiere of Ichneumonidae on April 21, 2012 at The Stone, NYC.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

Your name in the thanks lists, a sticker, a parasite bracelet made by Michelle, and a copy of the DVD wrapped in a signed scrap of the Ichneumonidae costume, plus a signed poster size print of your choice of one of the photos appearing in the booklet (mailed separately rolled in a tube). International backers, please add $5 to help offset shipping costs.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

Your name in the thanks lists, a sticker, a parasite bracelet made by Michelle, and a copy of the DVD wrapped in a signed scrap of the Ichneumonidae costume, plus a poster size print of your choice of one of the photos appearing in the booklet (mailed separately rolled in a tube), a signed copy of the musical score, and an invitation for you and a guest to attend the filming of the DVD in New York City, which will not be a public event. International backers please add $5 to help offset shipping costs.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

Your name in the thanks lists, a sticker, a parasite bracelet made by Michelle, a copy of the DVD wrapped in a signed scrap of the Ichneumonidae costume, a poster size print of your choice of one of the photos appearing in the booklet, a signed copy of the musical score, and an invitation for you and a guest to attend the filming of the DVD in New York City, which will not be a public event, plus a guest list spot for you and a friend to attend the opening party (food & drinks included) and premiere live performance of the large ensemble version of Ichneumonidae, a special edition screen-printed insert featuring diagrams and other behind-the-scenes notes, and a vinyl LP copy + digital download of our most recent Kayo Dot release, Gamma Knife. Out-of-town backers who cannot attend the NYC events do not have to add any extra amount for shipping and will receive a special bonus track of an outtake from Ichneumonidae in their email.